Replies

1. 
   GCourter | Nov 29, 2002 11:19pm | #1

   When are you looking to begin your project?  I travel up the east coast doing additions, restoration, and remodeling jobs and have references.  You can contact me thru my pocketnet at [email protected] 

2. 
   Piffin | Nov 30, 2002 12:05am | #2

   Is Mass one of those states with strict licensing requirements?

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

   The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

   --Marcus Aurelius

1. 
   strider7tk | Nov 30, 2002 12:11am | #3

   I don't know how strict the requirements are in Mass. for licensing. I know that you do not need a licensed builder on every job, because I am doing my own garage addition and I don't have a carpentry/builder's license.

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 30, 2002 12:31am | #4

   One never needs a license to work on their own home. Special exceptions regarded as constitutionally protected from infringement. Man's home is his castle and all that..

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

   The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

   --Marcus Aurelius

1. 
   clampman2 | Nov 30, 2002 07:45am | #6

   Thanks piffin,

   You don't know how good it makes me feel to hear someone else say that no one can prevent a homeowner from working on, or building, his own house.

   Clampman

1. 
   bobl | Dec 01, 2002 05:33am | #8

   In Mass. you can't do electrical, plumbing, gas without a license, even on your own house.bobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's cheat sheet

2. 
   clampman2 | Dec 01, 2002 08:57am | #9

   Bobl,

   According to the building departments nearly everywhere I've worked that is the case. However, If you are a homeowner and refuse to listed to their BS and go ahead and do it anyway there usually is nothing they can do so long as it meets code. If the Communist Commonwealth really does have statutes preventing one from working on his own electrical and plumbing, I'd be interested in hearing what kind of teeth that statute has, (ie. jail time, fines or what).

   In 1997 I rebuilt my folks place in Florida that was destroyed by a hurricane. After hearing a bunch of bull from the local building department, my father, then 85, told the building department that he'd had it with them: didn't care if they gave him any permits or not; and stormed out of the office. He told them we were going back that minute and re-building the house, and to send the cops to throw him, his wife and me in jail if they thought they could.

   I did all the plumbing and wiring because he didn't have a building permit, which had to be obtained before the plumbers and electricians could draw their permits.

   The tax office, over a year after the house was complete, got the building department to issue a certificate of occupancy, so they could get their tax money on a new house.

   Clampman

3. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 01, 2002 07:43pm | #10

   "I'd be interested in hearing what kind of teeth that statute has, (ie. jail time, fines or what)."

   Those are a cival proceedings. They can go to court and get a stop work order.

   Then if that court order is not obeyed then they the court fine and/or jail your for contempt of court.

4. 
   Piffin | Dec 02, 2002 07:29am | #11

   And then if you refusedto pay they lein the property and can eventually own it.

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

   The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

   --Marcus Aurelius

5. 
   strider7tk | Dec 02, 2002 06:40pm | #12

   Bill-

   Not sure what you meant by "those are civil proceedings"; fines are criminal, and incarceration is usually, not always, a criminal punishment (the main exception is when you are jailed to enforce a court order, which could be the result of either civil or criminal contempt).

   You are on the right track that a town could seek an injunction (civil equitable remedy), and enforce it via a contempt proceeding and/or civil penalties. But it is a long road for a town to follow. I think most towns would find they have better things for their counsel (many of whom are paid on an hourly basis rather than salaried) to do than to bring a suit against a homeowner who did his or her own electrical work that is up to code. If you don't follow code, then the safety concern might justify (in the town's view) the investment of time and money for the town to pursue it.

   I like the posting about the tax department leaning on the building inspector to issue a certif. of occupancy so they could tax the completed structure. Other than withholding the C of O, which could mess a homeowner up if they want to sell their home or borrow against it later, there is not a lot that most towns will do. This is not based on any surveyed data, just my gut... After 16 years in the legal field, however.

2. 
   bobl | Nov 30, 2002 07:15am | #5

   http://www.state.ma.us/bbrs/programs.htmbobl          Volo Non Voleo      Joe's cheat sheet

3. 
   dieselpig | Nov 30, 2002 10:43pm | #7

   Strider,

      I am a licensed and insured builder working out of Framingham, MA.  I recently finished a 2.4 million dollar home in Wellesley you may want to look at.  I am currently tied up doing four condos in Waltham, however I will be free in approx. a month or so.  Let's talk... email me at [email protected] and I'll give you a cell phone number or we can make arrangements to meet.  We do all our own framing and trim and I have reliable subs for masonry, site work, plaster etc.

4. 
   gizzyjr | Feb 02, 2003 02:13am | #13

   I am a building and remodeling contractor from the south shore. I would be interested in your project. For the last few years I have been working in the Cohasset area, but I would have no problem traveling to Concord. Actualy I was hired a few years back to oversee the construction of your police station renovations. I can supply refrences, license, and insurance info if needed.

   My e-mail is [email protected]

             

5. 
   buck1157 | Mar 15, 2003 06:26am | #14

   I have a business based in MA for the past 20 + years most of my work is along the 128 belt feel free to write we could and meet to talk. My E mail is [email protected]  Thanks John